Looks, of course, can be deceptive. Underneath, you know TFC’s leading goal-scorer is just burning to play against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. And he probably will.

Altidore’s healthy. He’s from the New York area, played for the Red Bulls for three seasons and wants to help his club move up the MLS Eastern Conference standings and solidify a playoff spot.

TFC coach Greg Vanney elected not to play Altidore in Toronto’s 5-1 victory on Saturday night over expansion FC Cincinnati. Altidore was in the matchday 18 and available to play, but remained on the bench once it was obvious the visitors from Canada had the game in hand.

“We were up 3-0, the team was playing well, so Greg obviously felt that there was no need to change anything, and that’s fine,” Altidore said. “The most important thing at this point is getting results and we got a very important match (against NYCFC).”

Altidore, 29, said he is happy with his season, despite missing a number of club games to international duty and various knocks and injuries. And he should be, having scored 10 goals in 17 matches for TFC with five assists.

But Altidore said what he wants more than anything right now is to be able to help the Reds go on a run and move up the division ladder — starting with a good result against NYCFC, a red-hot club that has won five straight games and sits on top of the MLS Eastern Conference standings.

Playing at Yankee Stadium is always a challenge because of the unique dimensions of the field. The playing surface of the soccer pitch is 110 yards (100 metres) long by 70 yards (64 metres) wide—the smallest field in MLS. As well, NYCFC is on a roll (though will be without top scorer Heber, who has a right quad injury).

“It’s a good team and obviously their standing reflects that,” said Altidore, who hails from nearby Livingston, N.J. “We have to make sure defensively we’re alert because they’re a team that can score goals and likes to have the ball. We have to be compact and be ready for a difficult challenge on a difficult pitch.”

The Reds haven’t lost in their past five MLS games and Altidore likes his club’s chances of climbing in the standings, especially now that the newer additions — wingers Nicolas Benezet, Erickson Gallardo and centre back Omar Gonzalez — seem to be coming into their own and starting to really show their quality.

“Terrific. Terrific,” Altidore said when asked about the trio. “I think there was a point in the season when we needed a little bit more quality. And I think you see with Nico and with Erickson as well, who is younger and is going to get better and has been spectacular, but I think you see in Nico is, he’s more mature, kind of knows what he is. He’s been a big boost for us in terms of … he can play out wide, he’s a very good dribbler, he can come inside, can set up guys. He’s been a guy we’ve really welcomed a lot. And Erickson as well, but I think Erickson still has more to show. I don’t think we’ve seen everything from him. He’s a young kid with immense talent and a huge potential. I’m really happy with both of them.

“I think one thing about our club, it’s easier for guys like Nico to come in and succeed because we play a brand of football that he can enjoy, that he can come into seamless,” Altidore added. “I think the philosophy of how Greg wants to play, combined with the roster we have in terms of guys being footballers and be able to play in tight spaces and pass and move, I think that fits Nick very well.

“But our team is still not a finished product,” the big forward continued. “I think we’re still training to become the best version of ourselves. Obviously, we hope that happens right now, but I think this team is in the process of getting to its best.”

Vanney said centre back Chris Mavinga (who missed the Cincinnati match with a sore ankle) is available to play on Wednesday, as will be Nick DeLeon, who has battled a number of physical setbacks this season. Full back Justin Morrow (quad injury) also missed Saturday’s game and did not make the trip to New York.

TFC defeated New York City FC in the first meeting between the two sides this season on March 29 at BMO Field, when Alejandro Pozuelo scored a brace. Altidore and Jay Chapman also scored.

Vanney said Pozuelo, who had two assists against Cincy, is feeling good and will be available against NYCFC, a club that is missing a number of players to international duty. TFC is without three Canadians playing for the national team — Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea and Liam Fraser.

Vanney held a short drill in training on Tuesday to simulate playing on a tighter pitch.

“We just have to be prepared for the conditions. The field is really tight, it’s small. Things happen fast,” he said. “These games — because we’re both attacking teams — always have some interesting twists and turns and we just want to stay on the right side of those.”